Knitting-machine.



No. 815,167. V, Y PATENTED MAR. 13, 1906.

v' J.- B.:.HVVIPWEVLL Y I KNITTING MACHINE, APPLICATION FILM) JUNE 28,1904.

5 sHnnTs-sriE3T 1.

i I ,R

INVENTOBQ' :PATBNTED MAR. 13, 1 906.

. I No. 815,167; y

Y P ,J.JB. HIP-WELL.

KNITTINGMA'OHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28 1904 5 snmiTs-snEm-z.

H I V HPATENTED MAR. 13, 190 J. B. HIPWELL." 'KNII'TINGM'AGHINE; j

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1904".

I No. 815,167.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- WITN E U' No. 815,167. v {PATENTBD MAR. 13', 190 v B; HVIPWELL. KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28,1904.

5SHEET S SHEET Ham 1 v I INIVE'INTOR:

*UnITEos A Es OF PENNSYLVANIA;

PATENT, ()FFIOEA I I v 1 JOHN B. HI'PwELnoF READING, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNORTO WINDSOR.

MACHINE O NY. OF READING,

PENNSYLVANIA'A CORPORATION KN ITTING- iVIACHiNEiQ v To all whom) iilmidy concern:

- means forfchanginglthe threa'ds'supplied to with. The formof my invention applied to,

vBe it known" that I=, J0nN'B .-'H1PwnLL, of Reading, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew .and useful In. rove-j ments in Knittin -Machines, whereof t e following is a speci cation, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings; I My improvements relate particularly to acircularseri'es of knitting-needles during their operati'0n,so as to produce transverse stripes in a tube. knit by said needles.

"I have chosentwo embodiments "of my in vention for illustration, respectively,'in con- 'nection with an ordinary 'circulahknittin machine of .the rotary-cam-cylinder typeand acircular-rib-knittin cam-cylinder type. n both of said, forms of my invention. the, thread-(than ing-opera- I jtions are'effected undercontrol 0 a pattern{ chainand may be var ed in accordance theresaid'n'b-knitting machine includes means arranged to'sever the idle thread from the fab ric and clamp said thread until requiredfor the knitting, 'the thread shearing and clamp,- ing operations 'being'also under the control of said pattern-chain. I It is obvious that this 3 thread-severing mechanismgmay also be apbodiment'of my: invention. v

My invention comprehends the various novel features of constructlon andarrangeplied, if desired, to the first-illustrated ern ment hereinafterimore definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings, ,Fi ure. I is a plan View: of an ordinarpy circularitting machine comprising arotary cam-cylinder and embodying myvinventionJ Fig. II isai sid'eelevation of the machine shownin 1.;

Fi III is asectional view taken on the II III in Fig. I, but on a larger scale. Fig. IV'is an elevation ofthe' left-handside of the -mechanism shown in Fig. III. .Fi V- is a horizontal sectional view taken on t e line V V inLFig. IV. Fi VI is a perspective view of the crank-sha t for. liftm knitting machinecomprising a 'rotar cam- "cylinder and v embodying a modified orm of my invention. Fig. VIII is an elevation of the right-hand side ofthemachine shown in Fig. VII. is an elevation of'the in machine of the rotary- I the threadchanging levers shown in Fig. II. v Fig. VII1 is a plan view of. an ordinary.circular-rib-- her i e of' fthe thread-changing malaise-i 7 shown in FigJVII. Fig. X is a vertical sectional .view lofthe thread-shearing ldevice, taken on the "line X X in. Fig. VII:v Fig. XI

is'a vertical sectional view of the thread changin mechanism, taken on the line XI XI inFi II."

Re erring to the form of my invention-" show in Figs; I toIV, inclusive, 1 is' the. bed- Y plate of the machine, in which is suitably mounted: the rotary cam-cylinder 2, which may be provided with actuatin means of ordinary construetion. (Omitted rom thedraw- .ings.) Saidbedplate Lhas two pendentbear- "ing-brackets 3 for the shaft 4,-which latter 1s provided with the sprocket-wheel. 6, having teeth 7 arranged to engage the p ns 8 on the pattern-chain,cornprisin the links 9, 10, 1 1,.

1'2, 13, 14, and15. 'Sait shaft 4 may be rotated bythe mechanism'whichrotates said cam-cylinder 2 and indefinite relation with"- Said plate 1 is,

the movement of the latter. 'al'soprovided with the depending bracket 17,

having thefulcrum. 18 for the lever-19, which" i ternchain, which latter is shifted in the di neathsaidlever end." The opposite'end 22 ofsaidleverfl19 carries the plate 23 in-opera- 1 tive relation with the plungers 25.- Said plungers i 25 I are mounted for vertical rejc'iprocae tion'in the stationary bracket 26, supported by the bed-plate 1:, and each plun er is provlded with a "spring 29, (effective y Weaker than the spring 21,) tending to maintain it in \the lower position shown by pressure against its collar 30. Said cam-cylinder 2 1s provided with the standard '31,.upon which the bracket 32. is adjustably secured. Said bracket 32 isprovided with the shaft 34, upon which the frame 35 maybe tilted from its ,operative'p'osition shown. Said frame'35 is normally retainedflin its operative position by means of the locking-bolt 36, which is pressed. bythe spring '37 into engagementwith the recess 38in the side wall 39 of the bracket 32. -f The spring 40, secured onsa d bracket 32,b ears against the end of said ed ends of the levers.

frame 35 and tends to return it to its lower operative position when upraised. Said frame 35 carries the latch-guard 41 in proper relation to a circular series of needles carried by a needle-cylinder within said cam-ring 2. Said series of needles and their cylinder may be of ordinary construction and are omitted from the drawings. Said latch-guard 41 is conveniently secured in adpistable relation on said frame 35 by the screws 43, which also serve to secure the housing 44 of the threadchanging levers 45 and 46, which are mounted to oscillate upon the horizontal pivot 47 in said housing. Each of said levers comprises a main horizontal arm and a verticallyslots bearing upon the flattened sides of the levers insure the greatest accuracy in the motion of the levers on their pivot. Said housing 44 is provided with abutment-pins 52 and 53, which respectively limit the downward'movement of the thread-changing levers and 46, and it is to be understood that when either of said levers is in its lower operative position (occupied by the lever 46 in Figs. II and IV) the inner end of the lever presents the thread within the recess 64 of the latch-guard 41 in proper relation to engage the needles. This recess consists of a vertical slot reaching almost but not quite to the, bottom of the'latch -guard and is of sufficient width to allow the thread-changing levers to enter it, in which position the face of the depending extremity of the lever is substantially flush with the surface of the latchguard, rendering it substantially continuous,

' and the terminal aperture 49. occupies in rela- 7 tion to the latch-guard the position of the usual threadguide. Said levers 45 and 46 are raised and lowered in alternation by means of the crank-shaft 54, (shown in section in Fig. III and in perspective in Fig. VL) said shaft being provided with cranks 55 and 56, situated on opposite sides of the shaft. The expanded, pivoted ends of the levers 45 and 46 have cam-holes 57 and 58 cut through them, and the'shaft 54 passes through'these cam-holes,one of its cranks being in operative relation to each one of the levers. Each of the cam-holes is provided with cam-surfaces above and below in such relation to the crank which rotates within it that the turning of the crank to its uppermost position raises the threzul-chauging lever against the opposition of the spring 160, while the turning of it'to its lowermost position locks the lever in its lower position. When the shaft 54 is in its ordinary position, one of its cranks is up and the other down, and therefore one of the levers is held up and the other locked down. If new the crank is given a quarter- 'rotation, the curvature of the cam-surfaces of the cam-holes issuch that the lever previously raised is lowered by its spring, while the one previously locked down is not raised,but remains down under the tension of its spring until the succeeding quarter-rotation of the shaft raises it and locks the other down. Said crank-shaft 54 is arranged to be intermittently rotated by the bevel-gear 59 (shown in Fig. IV) in operative relation with the bevel-gear 60 on the vertical shaft 61, which latter is mounted for rotation in the brackets 62 and 63, projecting from said housing 44, and is provided at its lower end with the starwheel' 65, secured thereon by the nut 66 and I arranged to be partially rotated a quarter-rotation at a time whenever its teethencounter the ends of one of the plungers 25, projectin above the bracket 26. The hub 67 of said star-wheel is provided with four sockets 68 (best shown in Fig. V) to receive the detent comprising the ball 69, which is pressed therein-by the spring 70, mounted in the bracket 63 and retained by the screw-plu 71. Said shaft 61 is conveniently provide with the handle 72 atits upper end, Whereb it may be manually set in any desired position, although it is to be understood that during the normal operation of the machine the movement of said shaft 61 is controlled by the pattern-chain above described, which effects the vertical projection and retraction of said plungers 25 in a sequence predetermined by the arrangement of its links, said plungers when raised being in the path of the star-wheel and when lowered, as shown in Fig. II, being flush with the top of the bracket 26 and clear of said star-wheelthat is to say, referring to Fig. II, it is to be understood that when the high links 9, 11, and 15 uphold the lever 19 by contact with its end 20 said plungers 25 are in inoperative position and the star-wheel 65, shaft 61, and mechanism connected therewith, including the threzui-changing levers 45 and 46, remain stationary, whereas when the low links 10, 12, and 14 register with the end-2O of said lever 19 the spring 21 shifts the latter so as to uplift the plungers 25 into the path of said star-wheel to rotate the latter and effect a corresponding change in the relative position of the thread changing levers 45 and 46, said wheel 65 being re uired to successively encounter both of said plungers 25 to effect the complete transposition of said levers 45 and 46. Owing a) the opposed position of the cranks 55 and 56 on the crank-shaft 54, the quarter-rotation of the star-wheel 65, which results from its contact with the two plungers, is effective to lower whichever fects the raising of the other threadchanging one, of the levers 7 and i6 has been previously iraised, while the succeeding quarter- I :rotation, which results from the contact of the starwheel Withthe.otl1er-pl;unger, ef-

lever. Accordingly it results that the throw-- .ing intoractionfof a newjthread is always ef fected somewhat before the old thread is Y withdrawn from action the circumferentiald p ndent upon the distance between the twoplun ers 25..

' interval betw'eenthes'e two successive moftions'being measured by the interval between the'plu'ngers, Inv other words,1the length of the overlap of the; old and the nwthread is In the o'rmiof my inventidn shownin Figs.

'VII .to XI, inclusive, is the bed-plate, in

which is mounted the rotary cam+cylinder=181,

provided with-the standards 82 and cross head 83-, supporting the dialcam plate 85 and needle-dial 86. in concentric relation with the.

stationary needle-cylinder 88. It is to be un:

derstood that said bed-plate 80 supports any suitable pattern devicei.for instance, a wheel or a patternchain similar tothat shown in. Fig. II -i n operative relation with alever; havingthe end plate 90, (shown in Fig.VIII,'-)

similar to the plate 23, above described,

adapted tocooperatewith the pluhgers 91,

mounted for reciprocationin the bracket 92.

- screws 102. g

are mounted to oscillate on the pivot 104in 4 5 said'housing 98 and; are respectively provided IEachIof said plungers 91'isprovided with a spring 94,- which normally retracts it to the' lowerposition (shown in FigLVIII) by ressure against its cellar 95. The thread-c ajnging mechanism (shown in FigsJVIII to XI, ,i n' elusive) is conveniently mounted inithe= sta- 1 tionary bracket 97 which is secured-upon the rotary cam-cylinder 81. The housing98 for the thread-changing levers 100 and 101'is conveniently secured to said bracket 97 by the (Shown in Fig XI.-) Said levers withsp rings 105 land 106, which tend to,

thrust them intotheirloweroperative position, occupied b the lever 101'in FigsVIII and XI, Saidl evers 100and' 101 are ar-- ranged to be raised and lowered in alterna' tionby means of the crank-shaft -1 07, (shown insection-inFig. XI,) which-is similar to the shaft 54 and is provided With'cranks 108 and;

109, (indicated in dottedlines inF-ig. XL) which turn in cam-"holes 110'and 1111 in the respective levers1 00and 101. Each of said levers 100 and 101 isprovided with an eye 112 intermediateof jitslength and an aper-' ture 1 13. in its"dependingextremity for the respectivethreads 115'and 1-1-6. Said housin 98 is provided with abutment-pins 118 an 7 .119, which respectivelylimit the downwardmovement of the 'thread-changin levers 100 and 101, anditis'to be understoo that when .cess 120 of the thread guide 122, which is disarranged to be intermittently rotated b the bevel-gear124 (shown in FigsVIII an IX) onthe vertical counter-shaft 126, which latter and 129,extendin from thehou'sing 98. Said star-wheel 1130, which is arranged to be acturecesses 13,3 adapted to engage the detent thespring 136, retained b the-screw-plug 137: in the bracket 12 8. T ethread-clam 139is provided at its inner end with'the yo'ke .to the thread-apertures 113 along the up er surface of the respective levers, so that w en;

ried thereby is clampe I "theclamping-lever.139, which is slightly up- I lifted-by the thread-chan ing lever under tension of its spring'140.

anism may be dispensed with; but in a ribber' and I have therefore shown this embodiment of-my invention as provided with means for effecting such severance. It willzof course be in the drawings, FigsVII to- XI, inclusive,

vide the 'mech'ani sm comprising jthe' hook- VII,)' which is retained in -the reeess'144 of Fig. X.) This le gerrblade 143 is provided said levers are in theirlower position their dewith a deep notch 15 1, inclined so as to occupy posedin proper relation with; the needle-dial 1 86 and cylinder 88. Said crank-shaft 107 is shaft-126 is provi ed at its lower end with thecomprising the ball 135,-which is pressed by i such as I am now describing it is desirable to provide such thread-severing mechanism be- 1 cause of the difficulty of floating the threads,

pending extremitiesare presented in the re in operative relation with the bevel-gear is mounted for rotation in the brackets128 11s" 1 'ated b '.said plungers 9-1 in themanner de-i scribe with reference .to the other form ofmy inventiornfsaid shaft 126 being provided 80 I atlits upper end with the collar 132, having' 'eitherof the levers is uplifted the thread car between its leveriand n theenibodiment, 'ofmy-invention .which I havefdes'cribed first 'in this specificationiI omitted to showany thread-severing mechanism in order to 'sim- -plify the drawings and description, for in the ordinarycircular-knitting machine idle Q threads maybe floated within thetube which v is being knit, and thus thread-severingmech l-IO 85 ing lever 139 is mounted to voscillate'upon t e f pivot' 104 in the housing 98 and is provided with the spring 140, whichtends to retain it in the position shown in Fig. XI; Said lever I 9. 141, which, as shown in Fig. IX, "overhangs" the two thread-changing levers 100 a'nd101. It is to be understood that thethreads 115' andl 16, respectively, controlled bythe levers 100 and 101, extend fromthe thread-eyes 1 12 Iv &

a position substantially parallel to the line of the needles and in close proximity to the which engages the lever 154, by which said blade is reciprocated at predetermined times. Said lever 154 being mounted to oscillate on the screw-stud 155 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. VII and in full lines in Fig. XI) and having its opposite end provided with the spring 156, which extends to the pin 158 on the housing 98, as shown in Fig. VIII, said spring tends to normally retract said blade 149 into its idle position. .(Shown in Figs. VII and X.) However, said lever 154 is provided with the cam 159, which encounters the plunger 91, (shown at the right-hand side of Fig. VII,) and is operated by the same when the plunger is uplifted by the pattern-chain. It may be noted that if said cam 159 encounters the plunger 91 (shown at the left-hand side of Fig. VII) its resulting operation is merely idle, as the thread to be sheared is not presented within the blade-recess 151 until its lever 100'or 101 is uplifted to idle position by the encounter of the star-wheel 130 with both of said plungers 91 in succession. I It is to be understood that I do not desire tolimit myself to the particular details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention.

I claim, e

1. In a knitting-machine, thecombination with thread-changing levers, each provided with means to guide a thread to the needles;

. of means arranged to transpose said levers,

com rising a crank-shaft provided wit-h cran s operatively related to the respective levers; means arranged to rotate said crank shaft, comprising a counter-shaft connected therewith; a star-wheel on said counter-shaft a plunger;ineans arranged to present said plunger in operative relation with said starwheel, comprising a lever and a patternchain arranged to actuate it; a shearing device arranged to sever the idle thread from the fabric, comprising a reciprocatory blade; a lever arranged to reciprocate said blade; and, a cam on said lever, in operative relation with said lunger, substantially as set forth.

2. In a nitting-machine, the combination with thread-changing levers each provided with means to guide a thread to the needles; of means arranged to shift said levers, com- .callyswinging thread-changing levers prising a crank-shaft provided with cranks operatively related to the respective levers; means arranged to rotate said crank-shaft, comprising a counter-shaft connected therewith; a star-wheel on said counter-shaft; a plunger; and, means arranged to resent said plun er in operative relation wit said starwhee comprising a lever and a patternchain arranged to actuate said lever, substantially as set forth.

3. In a circular-knitting machine, verti- 17- oted in parallel relation to each other; eac i of said levers'comprising a main horizontal arm and a vertical depending extremity; and each being provided with a thread-guiding aperture piercing the vertical portion near its lower end; and a thread-eye mounted on the lever near its right-angled bend, substantially as set forth.

4. In a circular-knitting machine, the com bination of thread-changing levers pivoted horizontally so that their extremities swing vertically toward or away from the needles; a cam-surface upon each of said levers; and a horizontal shaft mounted beneath the levers, carrying cranks corresponding to each of the levers, which cranks by the rotation of the shaft are brou .ht into contact with the camsurfaces of the evers to effect the raising thereof, substantially as set forth.

5. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with thread-changing levers pivoted horizontally so that their extremities swing vertically toward or away fromthe needles; a cam-surface upon each of said levers; and a horizontal shaft mounted beneath the levers, carrying cranks corresponding to each of the levers, which cranks by the rotation of the shaft are brought into contact with the camsurfaces of the levers to effect the raising thereof, said cam-surfaces having a contour such that, after the lever has been raised by the contact of the crank beneathit, a quarter-rotation of said crank permits thelowering of thelever, substantially as set forth.

6. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with thread-changing levers pivoted horizontally so that their extremities swing vertically toward or away from the needles; a cam-hole in each of said levers; and a horizontal shaft passing through the cam-holes carrying cranks corresponding to each of the levers, which cranks by the rotation of the shaft are brought into contact with the lower surface of the cam-holes to effect the locking of the levers in their lower position, said lower surface having a contour such that after each lever has been locked by the crank a quarter-rotation of said crank may occur without alteration of the position of the lever, substantially as set forth.

, 7. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination of a pair of vertically-swinging pivotedv thread changing levers; a horizontal shaft beneath saidlevers; two cranks onop- I posite sides of said shaft in positions corresponding to the thread-changing levers; camsurfaces on each thread-changing lever of such extent and contour that if the'cranks I areghorizorital, a quarter-rotationraises one lever and a succeeding quarter-rotation lo'v ers it; a star-wheel having four'arms in operative connection with said shaft; and a plunger bythe raising or lowering of which the;

star-wheel is progressed-byquarter-rotations, substantially as set forth.

8. In a circular-knitting1nach1ne,the com .bination of a rotating cam-cylinder carrying two pivotedthread-changing levers the free armsof which swing vertically; a horizontal shaft with opposing cranks under the thread changing levers by the rotation of which said levers are successively "raised; cam-surfaces on said levers where they come in contact 'with the cranks of such contour that if thecranks are vertical a quarter-rotation of the shaft lowers the raised lever, while the succeeding quarter-rotation raises the other. lever; a four armed Star wheel in operative connection to said shaft; and two vertical iplungers in fixed relation to each other mount ed on the non-rotary, arts of the machine,

whereby the contact 0 one of these plungers with the'star-wheel'effectsthe lowering ofthe raised thread-changer, while its contact with the other plunger effects the raising of the other thread-changer, substantiallyas set forth; i v

9. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination of pivoted threadechanging levers, 1

the free ends" of which swing verticall-yinto and away from proximity with the needles; a crank-shaft parallel to the pivot of said le-,

vers provided with cranks operatively related to the respective levers; and means for effecting successive partial rotation of saidcrankshaft to'raise and lower the levers, substantially as set forth. I i 1O Inja circular-knitting machine, the combination of pivoted thread-changing le-i vers, thefree ends of which swingvertically into and awayfrom proximity with the nee? dles; a crank-shaft parallel to'the pivot of .fcomprisi'ng combination of a housing mounted uponthe cam-cylinder; a horizontalp ivot fixed therein; thread-changing levers carried thereby, the free ends of, whichswing vertically over the needles; springs whereby said threadchanging levers are normally pressed down intoposition to feedtheir thread to the neefdles; and a'horizontal shaft withcranks rotating beneath said thread-changing levers by the contact of the cranks ofwhich-with the levers they are successively raised against the opposition of the springs, substantially as i set forth. c

12. In a circular-knittin machine, .a thread-changing lever pivote in fixed relation to thecam-cylinder and having its free end swinging vertically in relation'to the needles; a cam-hole 1n said lever; a

'by'the contact of which with the edges 'ofthe shaft passing 2 through said cam-hole with a crank upon it;

cam-hole the lever is operated, substantially 5 asset forth." I Y Y 13. In a circular-knitting machine, a

thread-changing lever pivoted in fixed rela-' tion to thecanl-cylinder and having its free end swinging ,yei'tically in relation to thence dles; a cam-hole in said lever with cam-surfaces on its upper and lower edges; a shaft passing through said cam-hole with a crank which when'it is turned up contactswith the upper cam;- surface to raise thelever, and

lower cam-surface to lock the lever'in its lower position, substantially aslset forth. I

L L-In a circular-knitting machine, the

ver, having its free end swinging vertically overthe needles; threa.d-guidin eyes where,- by the thread which is controlle by the lever is caused to travel along its upper surface;-

when it is turned down contacts with the combination of/apivoted thread-changing leand a spring-pressed thread-cla1np pivotally n'rourited above the thread-changing lever with which the upper surface of said lever comes m contact whenever it is raised to withdrawthread from the needles, :whereby the raising of the lever clamps the thread whieh'it controls, substantially as set forth.

' v 15; In a circularknitting machine, the combination of apivoted threadchanging le ver, 'havinglitsfree end swinging vertically over the needles thread-guiding eyeswhercbythe thread which is controlled by the. lever ,iscaused to travel alongits upper surface;

a spring -,pressed thread clamp, pivotally.

IOO

ic's mounted above the thread changmg lever with which the upper surface of said lever comes in contact wheneverit is raised to withdraw thread from the needles, whereby the raising of the levericlamps the thread wlnch it controls; and a shearing device whereby uponthe ralslng of the thread-changing lever the thread which is withdrawn from thencedles and clamped is'severed betweenthe' end I of the lever and the knitting, substantially as set forth; 7 I

16. In a circular combination of a plurality of, ivoted threadchanging levers having. their ree ends swing ing vertlcallyover the needles; thread-guidknitting machine, the

mg eyes whereby the thread which is con- ,trolledby each leveris-caused to travel along its upper surface; a single spring-pres'se thread-clamp pivotally mounted above said thread-changing lever s,- 'an l extending transthe thread-changing mechanism is operated and by contact with which the reciprocatory shearing-blade is also operated; the threadchangin mechanism and the thread-shearing mec anism being so mounted in relation to each other that the, latter comes into contact with said plunger immediately after the former comes in contact With it, substantially as set forth.

18. In a circular-knitting machine, the

combination of thread-changlng mechanism comprising a plurality of thread-changing levers; two vertical lun ers; means whereby contact of the thread-changing mechanism with the first plunger introduces a new thread to the knitting While contact with the second plunger withdraws the old thread from the knitting; and thread-shearing mechanism which is operated by contact with the first plunger, substantially as set forth.

19. a In a circularknitting machine, the combination of thread-changing mechanism comprising a plurality of thread-changing levers; two vertical plungers; means whereby the contact of the thread-changing mechanism with the first plunger introduces a new thread to the knitting, while contact with the second plunger withdraws the old thread from the knitting; thread-shearing mechanism which is operated by contact with the first where y the elevation or de ression of said plungers to contact with the t read-chan ing and thread-shearing mechanism is contro ed, substantially as set forth.

20. In a knitting-machine, the combination with thread-chingin levers, each provided with means to guifie'a thread to the needles; of means arranged to transpose said levers, comprising a crank-shaft provided with cranks operatively related to the respective levers; means arranged to rotate said crank-shaft, comprising a counter-shaft connected therewith; a star-wheel on said counter-shaft; lungers; means arranged to presentv said p un ers in operative relation with said star-whee comprising a lever and a pattern mechanism arranged to actuate it, substantially as set forth.

21. In a knitting-machine, the combination of thread-changing levers and means to operate them; a shearing device arranged to automatically sever the idle thread from the fabric; a thread-clamping device comprising a lever, arranged to automatically clamp the idle thread when severed from the fabric and to hold it in position; aspring operativclyengaged with said clamping-lever; and, means arranged to shift the thread-changing levers into operative relation with said clampinglever, comprising a variable pattern mechanism, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Reading, in the State of Pennsylvania, this 25th day of June, 1904.

JOHN.B. HIPWELL. Witnesses:

GEORGE D. HORST, CARL OLDoERP.

plunger; and a pattern mechanism 

